English football’s two genuine heavyweights will lock horns once again at Old Trafford on Saturday evening.

The stakes are always high when Liverpool face Manchester United and this time both clubs go into battle in desperate need of a lift after unconvincing starts to the new campaign.

Both have picked up seven points from their opening four Premier League games. Both have found goals desperately hard to come by.

Both were beaten prior to the international break with Liverpool’s dismal home defeat to West Ham followed by United’s setback at Swansea 24 hours later.

It’s still early days but it requires a sizeable leap of faith to believe that either club will be challenging pace-setters Manchester City for the big prize this term.

The two fan bases are already showing signs of unrest with Brendan Rodgers and Louis van Gaal – both under huge pressure to deliver after big summer spending sprees - coming underfire for their team selections and tactical approaches.

For the victorious manager on Saturday, there will be some cherished breathing space. Securing the spoils will be held up as proof of their top four credentials. The doubters will at least temporarily be silenced.

However, for the vanquished, the scrutiny will increase. The early whisperings of discontent will grow louder. There will be no hiding place.

Nothing is won or lost in September but there’s no doubt that the outcome of these kind of contests resonate. They can energise and deflate in equal measure.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers looks dejected after the Barclays Premier League match at Old Trafford, Manchester.

It's been heaven and hell under Rodgers

Rodgers has experienced both ends of the emotional spectrum in his previous tussles with United during his Anfield reign.

Of the seven meetings, Liverpool have won two and lost five. It’s been either heaven or hell.

United did the double over the Reds in 2012/13 before Rodgers had his revenge the following campaign.

A 1-0 victory at Anfield was followed by an emphatic 3-0 triumph at Old Trafford. Those wins were sandwiched by a narrow League Cup defeat down the East Lancs.

With Liverpool having humiliated David Moyes’ United in their own backyard during their thrilling title challenge, there was talk of a shift in the balance of power.

Having trailed home 28 points adrift of champions United in 2012/13, the Reds finished the following campaign 20 points ahead of them.

But last season the tables turned once again. That was largely down to Liverpool’s demise rather than any significant turnaround masterminded by Van Gaal.

Rodgers’ side effectively gifted United the final Champions League spot with their capitulation in the spring. Liverpool finished eight points adrift of their rivals, who limped home fourth having won just one out of their last six.

Both games between the clubs proved to be chastening afternoons for Liverpool. Rather than rise to the occasion, they flopped badly.

Steven Gerrard sees red against Manchester United.

Hope and despair in last season's contests

The Old Trafford touchline was a lonely place for Rodgers last December. He had the merciless taunts of United fans ringing in his ears as the Reds crashed to a 3-0 defeat.

The scoreline was unquestionably harsh as Liverpool dominated for long periods but they wasted a stack of chances and paid the price for their defensive shortcomings. United keeper David de Gea walked away clutching the bubbly.

Ironically, amidst the ashes of that setback there was hope. Playing three at the back with Raheem Sterling as a central striker had made Liverpool a more potent threat.

The Reds duly went on a 13-game unbeaten league run – taking 33 points out of a possible 39 – before the clubs met again at Anfield in March.

All the pre-match talk was about Liverpool showing United how far they had come but Rodgers’ men fluffed their lines alarmingly.

Steven Gerrard fronted up and carried the can after his dismissal for a stamp on Ander Herrera 40 seconds into the second half effectively killed off the Reds’ hopes of a fightback.

The captain was unable to control his frustration after having to sit and watch a first-half performance of glaring ineptitude. But in truth there should have been a queue behind Gerrard offering their apologies.

Presented with the chance to climb into the top four, Rodgers’ side froze and gifted United the initiative. Van Gaal won the tactical battle as the visitors nullified the attacking threat of Liverpool’s wing-backs and exploited the space in behind them.

Having fired United ahead before the break, Juan Mata grabbed a classy second after Gerrard’s red card. Daniel Sturridge halved the deficit but there was no way back with Simon Mignolet keeping out Wayne Rooney’s penalty late on.

Just as at Old Trafford three months earlier, the Reds’ wounds had been self-inflicted. Their revival was halted that day and a season quickly went off the rails.

On Saturday evening two old foes will be reunited. We will learn whether what happened against West Ham at Anfield was merely a blip or a worrying sign of what’s to come.

What’s clear is that United remain as unconvincing as they were last term. The question is whether Liverpool are good enough to take advantage.